The City of Toronto has begun using both real-time and historical traffic data to support traffic management activities addressing congestion on Toronto's roads.

"The addition of this data will help us better understand how traffic congestion is affecting our streets, better evaluate the impact of congestion management initiatives and better monitor the performance of our transportation system," said Mayor John Tory. "This is exactly the kind of technology support we need to help make traffic flow more effectively."

The real-time data provides the City with "24/7" information on travel times and traffic conditions across all of Toronto's major roads seven days a week without requiring the deployment of extensive traffic sensors. This data supplements existing traffic data collected through a combination of in-road sensors and manual methods.

The information collected will be used to support traffic management activities at the Traffic Operations Centre, providing key real-time information about all of Toronto's major streets. In addition, Transportation Services’ Big Data Innovation Team will use the data to measure and monitor changes in traffic congestion as well as to support more comprehensive planning and project evaluation.

"By better using the travel data information available, we can take positive steps toward improving travel for all road users – whether they travel by transit, bike or car," said Councillor Jaye Robinson (Ward 25 Don Valley West), Chair of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee.

Other applications of the data include supporting the development of new traveller information systems that will enable the City to communicate up-to-the-minute travel times to the public and help in co-ordinating agencies' responses to major traffic incidents.

A traffic-services company called Here, which works with mapping and big data analytics, has contracted to provide the data to the City.

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